Next Step of West Michigan

What Next Step of West Michigan does

Next Step of West Michigan is a faith-based 501(c)(3) social enterprise nonprofit headquartered at 100 Garden St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 2007, the organization combines a nonprofit workforce-development mission with three revenue-generating business lines: a full-service wood product manufacturing facility (CAD design, CAM programming, 3-axis CNC cutting, edge banding, sanding, finishing, assembly, and lumber processing); licensed commercial and residential construction services (general contracting, prefabricated wall panels, renovations, and affordable housing); and municipal city services (trash and brush removal, mowing, graffiti cover-up, fence repair, board-ups, and encampment cleanup). Earned revenue from these lines is supplemented by donations, grants, and an Etsy storefront for student-made products.

The organization serves two primary participant segments: adults facing barriers to employment (housing instability, prior incarceration, addiction recovery) and high school juniors/seniors seeking career and technical education credit. Programmatic offerings include a 6-week Adult Wood Training (with stipend), a 10-week Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Training (NCCER-certified, earn-while-you-learn), and a state-accredited High School Wood Tech delivered through Kent Intermediate School District (WCA Sawblade and OSHA 10 certifications). Wraparound services include housing coordination, transportation assistance, and job-readiness coaching in partnership with Goodwill Industries. The stated outcome is placement of most participants into sustainable careers within 30 days of program completion.

Go-to-market is community-led and hybrid: direct B2B/B2G sales for wood manufacturing (serving both national brands and local SMBs), construction, and city services (anchor client: City of Grand Rapids); channel partnerships with Kent Career Technical Center for high school enrollment; and donor/volunteer engagement through social media, email newsletter, and the nextstep-wm.org website. Reported scale signals include an annual budget exceeding $1.5 million (2017) and 18 full-time employees (2017), with current headcount reported in the 11-50 range. A 2025 grant from the Lowe's Foundation indicates continued institutional funder engagement.

Name

Next Step of West Michigan

Legal name

Next Step of West Michigan

Website

https://nextstep-wm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Next Step of West Michigan is a Grand Rapids-based 501(c)(3) social enterprise that combines workforce training with three revenue-generating businesses — wood product manufacturing, construction, and city services — to employ adults with employment barriers and high school students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Social Enterprise Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Collaboration, Teamwork & Conflict Resolution (EDAAAKAF), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Vocational training programs
• Social enterprise manufacturing
• Construction contractor services
• Municipal maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Wood Product Manufacturing: Revenue-generating wood product manufacturing services for customers ranging from national brands to local individuals. The team designs and manufactures wood products including retail display units, educational furniture, cabinetry, and wholesale components.
2. Construction Services: Full-service general contractor providing commercial and residential construction, prefabricated wall panels, renovations, and specialty construction projects. Collaborates with local partners on affordable housing initiatives and custom builds.
3. City Services: Municipal services partnership providing urban maintenance including trash removal, brush removal, mowing, graffiti cover-up, fence repair, and property securing for cities and municipalities.
4. Donations and Support: Financial donations from supporters to fund workforce development programs and organizational operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Next Step of West Michigan is a faith-based social enterprise nonprofit that provides job skills training and employment to community members facing barriers to employment. It operates three revenue-generating business service lines — wood product manufacturing, construction, and city/municipal maintenance — that simultaneously provide hands-on training and real work experience. These business services are paired with workforce development training programs (Adult Wood Training, Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Training, and High School Wood Tech) plus wraparound support and employment placement services.

Product overview

Next Step of West Michigan is a faith-based social enterprise nonprofit operating three revenue-generating business lines (Wood Product Manufacturing, Construction, and City Services) that simultaneously provide employment and hands-on training. These business services are complemented by three workforce development programs (Adult Wood Training, Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Training, and High School Wood Tech), plus wraparound support services (Pathways to Success and Employment Placement) that remove barriers and connect graduates with sustainable careers. The organization functions as an integrated social enterprise where business operations fund training programs and provide real-world work experience for participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wood Product Manufacturing Full-service wood manufacturing service offered to national brands, local companies, and individual customers. Capabilities include CAD design, CAM programming, 3-axis CNC cutting, edge banding (straight and contour), edge boring, sanding, finishing, assembly, and lumber processing. Products produced include retail display units, educational furniture, cabinetry, interlocking plywood frames, wholesale components, and conservation products.
• Construction Licensed and insured general contractor service offering commercial and residential construction, prefabricated wall panels, renovations, and custom builds including decks, garages, gazebos, and sheds. Collaborates with local partners on affordable housing initiatives and custom builds in West Michigan.
• City Services Municipal maintenance and urban services for cities and municipalities. Services include trash removal, brush removal, leaf and snow removal, board-ups, graffiti cover-up, mowing and trimming, highway litter picking, fence repair, and abandoned encampment removal.
• Adult Wood Training 6-week intensive training program (15 hours/week) for adults facing barriers to employment, providing skills in wood product manufacturing including equipment operation, OSHA standards, CNC tools, precision measurement, and quality control. Participants receive a stipend during training and career coaching support at no cost. Cohort sizes of 10-15 participants.
• Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Training 10-week program (24 hours/week) for adults facing employment barriers, providing NCCER Introduction to General Construction plus CORE certification, with hands-on training in framing, roofing, window and door installation, trim, siding, and cabinetry. Earn-while-you-learn model with paid training for graduates.
• High School Wood Tech State-accredited career and technical education (CTE) program for high school juniors and seniors in partnership with Kent Intermediate School District. Students earn high school credit and receive WCA Sawblade Certification and OSHA 10 certification upon completion. No tuition cost or additional fees.
• Pathways to Success Employment Support Services Wraparound support services for program participants, including housing coordination, transportation assistance (public transit passes), and case management services to remove barriers to adult education and training completion.
• Employment Placement Services Job placement assistance for training graduates, including resume building, direct employer referrals, interview preparation, and hands-on job readiness coaching delivered in partnership with Goodwill Industries. Most participants are placed into sustainable careers within 30 days of program completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most participants placed into sustainable careers within 30 days of program completion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, historical and secondary.

• City of Grand RapidscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership since 2018 to engage individuals asking for help with work opportunities. City Services crews clean alleyways, remove green growth, brush, litter and garbage. Also provides ongoing municipal maintenance contracts.
• StarbuckshistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011In 2011-2012, partnered with Starbucks to create bracelets for retail sale across the nation. Hired 22 employees and over 7 months assembled, packed, and shipped over 25,000 bracelets a day. Manufacturing engagement continued as a way to offer employment.
• City of Grand Rapids - Neighborhood Stabilization ProgramhistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Became a community development partner with the City of Grand Rapids in 2009, joining the Neighborhood Stabilization Program as a contractor. Completed 11 full home remodels over 4 years, putting at-risk individuals to work with on-the-job trades training.
• Kent Intermediate School District (KISD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-accredited career and technical education (CTE) program partnership. Next Step's High School Wood Tech is an approved program through KISD, allowing students to receive high school credit while attending the program during their regular school day.
• Kent Career Technical CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudents enroll in the High School Wood Tech program through Kent Career Technical Center and their school counselor. The center facilitates student access to the program.
• Lighthouse AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot training program partnership in Grand Rapids, MI. Fatayi participated in wood product manufacturing training through this partnership, later returning as an intern and eventually joining as Assistant Training Instructor.
• Goodwill IndustriessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for job readiness coaching. Employment & Community Coordinator provides resume building, job application help, interview prep, and hands-on job readiness coaching in partnership with Goodwill Industries.
• Mel Trotter MinistriessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting Adult Wood Training program. Listed as a partner organization in the workforce development ecosystem.
• Degage MinistriessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting workforce development programs. Listed as a partner organization.
• ICCFsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting workforce development initiatives in West Michigan.
• Preferred CorporatesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter of Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Training program. Listed as program supporter on program page.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• EmployIndy: Regional workforce development intermediary funding training providers and operating job-readiness programs; comparable in delivering outcomes-based employment services to job seekers facing barriers, though at a larger scale in Indianapolis.
• Mel Trotter Ministries: Grand Rapids-based nonprofit addressing homelessness, hunger, and recovery; listed Next Step partner and shares overlap in serving the same population needing housing, recovery, and employment pathways.
• Grand Rapids Community College Workforce Training: Community college-based noncredit workforce training provider in West Michigan; overlaps with Next Step's adult and pre-apprenticeship training offerings, credentialing, and employer placement services in the same regional labor market.

Regional players

• Hope Network: Large West Michigan nonprofit delivering workforce development, employment supports, and barrier-removal services; comparable mission scope, regional focus, and target populations (individuals with employment barriers) in Grand Rapids.
• West Michigan Works!: Regional Workforce Development Board serving West Michigan, funder and competitor for workforce training participants and employer connections; comparable scope of adult workforce services and certifications delivered in the same geography.

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit delivering employment services specifically to people returning from incarceration, mirroring Next Step's focus on previously incarcerated individuals and other employment-barriered populations; similar outcome-based employment placement model.
• Homeboy Industries: Nationally recognized social enterprise providing workforce training, transitional employment, and wraparound services for people with barriers including justice involvement; strong analog to Next Step's wood/construction training and reentry-friendly mission.
• Habitat for Humanity of Kent County: Affordable housing construction and rehab nonprofit in West Michigan; directly comparable to Next Step's affordable housing construction partnership and NSP-style home remodel services for underserved populations.
• The Doe Fund: Workforce development nonprofit operating transitional work programs (maintenance, sanitation) for individuals facing barriers — directly parallel to Next Step's City Services crews and wood/manufacturing training-with-employment model.
• Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids: Direct peer operating in West Michigan providing employment placement, job readiness coaching, and workforce development; Next Step explicitly partners with Goodwill for job readiness services, indicating overlapping service lines and shared target population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NextStepofWestMichigan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/next-step-of-west-michigan
• Instagraminstagram.com/nextstep.wm

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Next Step of West Michigan